Foreign

34

I stare at the ground, curled up into the corner of this couch. In this empty, cold apartment. I was once again pulled to this vicious cycle. I couldn't get out of it. Or maybe I don't want to because I'm too lost to give up now.

That picture in my head of a happy regular couple has been faded into something unrecognizable, it's been thrown so far its unreachable. But it's been like that since the start. Since I saw him across the floor of a club.

I couldn't cry anymore. I couldn't break down anymore. I was just calm. I didn't have the energy for anything else.

"Miss Sanchez." Mr. Valmont called out, I looked over to him. Sitting up properly and giving him a smile.

"Mr. Valmont, Good morning. I'm sorry I didn't hear you walk in." I stood up, brushing my hands against my shorts. "Would you like some coffee?" I asked as I started to move to the kitchen.

"No thank you...Miss Sanchez it's actually well into the night." I watched as Mr. Valmont raised his wrist, flashing his watch into his eyes. "9:15 to be exact." I didn't even feel shock.

"Oh." Was all I managed to say, I put away my coffee grounds back into the covert.

"Have you eaten anything Miss Sanchez?" Mr. Valmont asked kindly. My back still faces him so it was easier to lie. The thought of food, even the smell of anything edible had me gagging.

"Yes, I had some chicken actually." I grabbed a bottle of water, turning around to face Rush, his eyes watching narrowing at me with suspicion.

"Good...well I'm just here checking on you. You haven't left the apartment in two days." I felt my skin go cold. For some reason, being called out by Rush made me uncomfortable and embarrassed.

It was making me know the harsh reality that everything has being taken away from me. "I guess I've become a homebody." I said through a pained smile.

Rush left soon after that, telling me he'd always be there if I needed him. Sometime after that I was in the large bed upstairs, watching the couples, the groups of friends, and happy looking people walk towards the Eiffel Tower.

As weeks passed I only ever touched by Dante twice in the five weeks that passed. There was no talking, just him taking his frustrations out as he filled himself in me. Not even taking notice of the weight I was putting off, or my stiffness.

Neither did I at the time.

I was so busy craving him, waiting up for him. Praying in my mind that he'd come into this cell like apartment and give me those three hours of empty bliss and promise.

I didn't have the strength to call Jade. I was afraid because I knew I didn't want to hear the truth.

So I wallowed, watching as the sun sets and the moon rises up from her sleep...just to go back down again.

"Miss Sanchez." Rush interrupted the blankness. "Your stylist has arrived." I raised my eyebrow at the statement.

"Hm? Stylist? For what?" I questioned softly, removing the throw blanket he must've put on me hours earlier. Rush looked at me gravely.

"You'll be attending Mr. Moreau and Ms. Ayami's wedding." His voice was quiet and gentle. I just blinked at him, not understanding why he was so sad. I watched as he bent down, grabbing a vanilla colored envelope and handing it to me.

"Mr. Moreau handed you the invitation when he last visited remember." Rush tried to revive a memory but it just wasn't there.

I stared at the envelope. Not feeling a single thing.

"Oh." Was all I said, two minutes might've passed before I continued. "Well, I shouldn't keep the stylist waiting." I stood up and walked over to the man greeting him politely.

The man grinned at me, he seemed to be middle aged. Some parts of his hair had brass or gold stripes in them, a long nose and jaw. He grabbed my hands eagerly and shook them. He spoke to me in French, "Dear, you are the talk of the century! Dante has put his trust in me to make sure you look absolutely marvelous! I'm Corentin Bosier." I instantly knew him as he said his name.

He was someone I once dreamed to work along side with.

Soon more people came into the loft, greeting me with whispers in each other's ears, eyeing me up and down. Rush stayed, watching with annoyed eyes as the crew bluntly judged me. He sat in the couch, his arms folded.

They did my measurements and went to work, "Dante's been so busy, so he only gave me one request. 'Make it something short.'" Corentin and his crew laughed, but I only managed a short smile.

"So dear, this will be your dress. An Alexander McQueen." Corentin pulls out a beautiful pink Hauteur Couture dress. Slight ruffles, flowers, the straps drooping, a baby pink bow tied between my breast. He pressed it against my body as we all stared into the mirror that showed an awfully gray girl.

"It's beautiful." They all nodded, smiling.

"I felt like this would be a perfect statement piece. The mistress wearing a dress that has a Lolita feel, a sort of innocence left in you. Not just a whore." They all laughed around me.

"Innocence." I echoed, looking into the mirror, and staring into those empty eyes of some familiar face. I look back to the dress, short indeed. It was short, and showed much skin.

"Innocence." I whispered. They put me in the dress, I watched as the dress stopped towards the middle of my thigh. I could feel the air through my legs, and I knew if I were to bend my bottom would be shown.

But I guess that wouldn't matter. I shouldn't care about things like that anymore anyways.

"So we wanted to ask you personally," Corentin began, a smirk on his lips, his eyes owned a devious twinkle in them. "How much 'allowance' does Dante give you?! People have been saying more than 500,000 a month."

"No! Is it true that he gave you three brand new G- Wagons?!"

"No, no, tell us this....did you actually fuck him while Kiki was sleeping in the same bed?" They let out loud bursts of laughter.

"Were you actually friends with Kiki before you met Dante?" One of them said, a girl around my age, pushing her face close to mine.

Rush quickly walked in, "If you ask one more inappropriate question I'll have you all leave. I'm sure Mr. Moreau also told you not to ask any stupid questions. Am I right?" They all scattered around, quickly doing what they were here for.

For the next hour, Rush stayed in the room making sure no one said anything else.

Corentin and his team left. Leaving me and Rush alone. He sighed and shook his head. He looked over at me, staring at me as I sipped at my tea I had just poured. "Excuse me if I sound rude Miss Sanchez but...are you fine with becoming someone's doll?" I put down the dainty but wide porcelain tea cup. My slim fingers danced around the rim of the golden and rose colored cup.

"I guess that's what I've been from the very start," I said a deep ache where my heart used to be. "But thank you for the concern." I smiled up at Rush.